Finalists for Comerica Hatch Detroit to be announced tonight

DETROIT, MI - Ten retail
concepts will come closer to reality, and to $50,000 in start-up funds, when
Comerica Hatch Detroit announces narrower field of contestants tonight at 6:15 p.m.

Hatch Detroit was started last year as a way to push small ,independent retail and to further entrepreneurship in Detroit. In the previous contest, it raised $50,000 through random private and corporate donations. Some
of the corporate donors also gave up to $30,000 in business start-up services
such as legal advice, advertising support and IT services.

That contest was won by Joe Posch and his pop-up Hugh retail
concept, which is a kind of décor store for bachelors. With the Hatch Detroit
aid, Posch was able to secure a permanent location for his business, which is
set open this Fall in the Auburn Building in Midtown.

Last year's contest had more than 220 participants, and
65,000 people case their votes for the winner. Organizer say that this year's Hatch is expecting
greater interest. Public voting opens Sept. 10

This year, Comerica Bank signed on as a corporate sponsor
and guaranteed the $50,000 in prize money.